Petra Espinoza

A rosary will be recited for Petra Espinoza, 88, of Dexter at 7:00 pm Friday, January 17, 2014, at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services for Petra will be on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Dexter with Deacon Jesus Herrera officiating. Burial will follow in South Park Cemetery. Petra was born on August 1, 1925 to Narciso and Estanislada Rodriguez in Hagerman, NM. Petra met Rigoberto Espinoza and was married on March 16, 1946 in Fort Hancock, TX. She was a crusillista at St. John’s Catholic Church in June of 1973. For many years, she was part of a choir at St. John’s Catholic Church in Roswell and Immaculate Conception in Dexter. She enjoyed going to Bingo and the casinos. She will be greatly missed. Those left to cherish her memory are, her sisters, Eloisa Salazar and Belen Ybañez; a brother, Narciso Rodriguez; her children, Gilberto J. Espinoza and wife, Armira, of Dexter; Mary Chacon and husband, Alberto, of Dexter; Martin Jose Espinoza and wife, Debbie of Roswell; grandchildren, Trina O’Kelly of Dexter; Gilberto Jose Espinoza and wife Marylou of Roswell; Blanca Chacon and fiancé, Manuel Solano of Dexter; Armita Cordero and husband, Gabriel of Roswell; Martin Espinoza Jr. of Roswell; Marissa Espinoza of Roswell; and Deanna Chacon of Dexter; great-grandchildren, Lori Moreno and husband, Johnny; Gabby Silva and husband Lorenzo; Seleste Espinoza; Joseph Silva; Estrella Chacon; Gabriel Cordero; Natalia Espinoza; Zachariah Espinoza; Yanely Espinoza; Ysabel Chacon; and Kiarely Cordero; great-great-grandchildren Xadrian Espinoza; Alyric Moreno; Layla Silva; Lorenzo Silva III; and Lexi Silva; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Petra was preceded in death by her parents, Narciso and Estanislada Rodriguez; her husband of 62 years, Rigoberto Espinoza; three sisters, Maria Ybañez, Cruz Gonzales, and Hila Madrid, and two brothers, Eugenio Rodriguez, and Gregorio Rodriguez. Pallbearers will be Gilberto Jose Espinoza, Martin Espinoza Jr., Michael Gomez, Carmelo Rodriguez, Simon Rodriguez, Tommy Gomez. Honorary pallbearer will be Eric Gomez. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory. Letting Go The angels gathered near your side So very close to you For they knew the pain and suffering That you were going through I thought about so many things As I held tightly to your hand Oh, how I wished that you were strong And happy once again But your eyes were looking homeward To that place beyond the sky Where Jesus held His outstretched arms It was time to say good-bye I struggled with my selfish thoughts For I wanted you to stay So we could walk and talk again Like we did… just yesterday But Jesus knew the answer And I know you loved Him so So I gave to you life’s greatest gift The gift of letting go Judith Bulock Morse

Petra Espinoza

August 1, 1925 - January 15, 2014